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Monday, September 3, 2012

Members accuse Bidar CMC president of bias

Some members of the Bidar City Municipal Council disrupted the general body meeting here on Saturday, alleging that president Sridevi Karanji had discriminated against them while distributing grants to wards.

They alleged that Ms. Karanji had favoured some of her followers while releasing development grants to their constituencies. They also complained that Commissioner S. Ramdas had done nothing to stop the arbitrary actions of the president.

As soon as the meeting started, Shivakumar Bhavikatti, member, said officials had violated the rule that copies of important documents, such as action plans, must be circulated a day before the meeting. He sought postponement of the meeting.

He also alleged that the officials had changed the draft of the action plan prepared earlier without consulting the members. Manohar Dande and other members supported him.

However, Ms. Karanji said there was enough support for the action plan in the House and declared it approved.

This angered some members, who urged Mr. Ramdas to announce the cancellation of the meeting. They gheraoed the Commissioner and did not allow him to leave the CMC office. Even as Mr. Ramdas returned to his chamber, the members staged a dharna outside, shouting slogans against him.

Mr. Bhavikatti and Mr. Dandewere among those who staged the dharna.

They ended the protest after Ms. Karanji promised to convene another meeting at 4 p.m.

But when the general body met at that hour, the president was not there.

The members condemned her absence and demanded that the meeting be chaired by vice-president Abdul Javed.

Officials told the members that the rules did not allow it, but the members were not satisfied with the reply.

They went to Additional Deputy Commissioner Noor Mansoor with a complaint that the action plan had not been approved in the proper manner and urged him to return it to the CMC.

‘The Commissioner has done nothing to stop the arbitrary actions of the president’
Members stage dharna outside the Commissioner’s office